The Federal Government has suspended the implementation of the 15 per cent ad-valorem import duty earlier approved on imported Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and diesel, following widespread concern that the policy could trigger fresh increases in fuel prices and worsen inflation.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) announced the suspension in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, George Ene-Ita.

The duty, which was approved by President Bola Tinubu in October 2025, formed part of a fiscal measure aimed at aligning import costs with local production realities and supporting the growth of domestic refineries. The approval, conveyed through a letter by the President’s Private Secretary, Damilotun Aderemi, was based on a proposal from the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji.

Adedeji had argued that the new tariff framework would promote fairness in the downstream sector and encourage locally refined fuel, while ensuring that importers did not undercut domestic producers. “The core objective of this initiative is to operationalise crude transactions in local currency, strengthen local refining capacity, and ensure a stable, affordable supply of petroleum products across Nigeria,” he stated in his memo to the President.

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He further explained that the measure was corrective, not revenue-driven, and intended to stabilise the market by addressing pricing gaps between imported and locally refined products. The policy was expected to take effect after a 30-day transition period ending on November 21, 2025.

However, the plan drew strong opposition from stakeholders in the oil and gas industry, who warned that it would raise pump prices, drive up import costs, and increase inflation at a time when domestic refineries were still ramping up production.

In its latest statement, the NMDPRA said the import duty implementation “is no longer in view,” adding that the country currently has adequate supplies of petroleum products sourced from both local refineries and importation.

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“There is robust domestic supply of petroleum products to ensure timely replenishment of stocks at storage depots and retail stations during this period,” Ene-Ita said.

He cautioned marketers against hoarding or increasing prices outside market-reflective levels, stressing that the Authority would continue to monitor supply and distribution to prevent disruptions nationwide.

The suspension comes as the government intensifies efforts to stabilise fuel availability and pricing while supporting the transition toward self-sufficiency through local refining initiatives such as the Dangote Refinery and modular plants.

A professional hairstylist identified simply as Sebastine Timothy has been shot dead by suspected armed robbers in the Satellite Town area of Lagos State.

A police source, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, said the deceased was attacked shortly after returning home from work.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday night along Olasanoye Street in the community.

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According to the source, the robbers broke into Timothy’s apartment, dispossessed him of his belongings, and transferred an undisclosed amount of money from his bank account before shooting him in the head.

The source added that the assailants fled the scene immediately after the attack, while neighbours who heard gunshots later found Timothy’s lifeless body.

In a separate account, an online channel known for exposing cult-related activities, Confra Naija, claimed in a post on X that the attack was cult-related.

According to the platform, the assailants, believed to be members of the Eiye confraternity, had originally targeted Timothy’s brother, who is allegedly affiliated with a rival group, Aye, but turned on the hairstylist when they could not find him.

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“The Eiye cultists came to attack Sebastine’s brother, who is a member of Aye. When they didn’t find him, they turned on Sebastine, who told them his brother wasn’t around. They forced him to unlock his phone and transfer money to them, took his phone after the transfer, and shot him in the head,” the post read.

When contacted on Wednesday, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the incident but gave a slightly different account. She said Timothy sustained a fatal head injury during a fight with unidentified men in the area.

“He sustained an injury to the head and died on his way to the hospital. The police cannot confirm yet if it was a gunshot wound or a machete cut. The family reported the case at the station and later took his body to the mortuary,” Adebisi stated.

The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to halt the plan by the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, to implement Computer-Based Testing, CBT, for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, warning that the initiative could trigger widespread academic failure, psychological distress, and even fatalities among students.

The decision followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance presented by Hon. Kelechi Nworgu on Thursday, who called for immediate intervention to prevent what he described as an impending crisis in education.

Speaking on the motion, Nworgu acknowledged that while CBT has been successfully utilised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, the current state of most secondary schools in Nigeria renders such a shift premature for WAEC exams in 2026.

He stressed that the Federal Ministry of Education’s plan to conduct the 2026 WASSCE via CBT, despite objections from the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, and school principals, would place millions of students at a significant disadvantage, particularly those in rural communities who lack computers, stable electricity, and internet connectivity.

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“Most of the over 25,500 schools across the country, especially in rural areas, do not have functional computers or qualified computer teachers.

“Many students have never used a computer before, yet they are being compelled to take up to nine subjects, including theory and practical exams, through CBT,” he said.

Nworgu warned that the initiative is being rushed without sufficient groundwork and cautioned that its fallout could be severe, potentially resulting in mass failure, frustration, drug abuse, and other social ills among young people.

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He recommended that WAEC and the Ministry of Education postpone the CBT rollout for at least three years, suggesting a more feasible implementation period around the 2029–2030 academic session, after necessary infrastructure and training have been established.

In response, the House directed WAEC and the Ministry of Education to immediately suspend the planned CBT initiative.

It urged the government to allocate funds from the 2026 budget for hiring computer teachers, constructing computer labs with internet access, and installing standby generators in schools nationwide.

The House also tasked its Committees on Basic Examination Bodies, Digital and Information Technology, Basic Education and Services, and Labour, Employment and Productivity to engage stakeholders in the education and technology sectors and submit a report within four weeks to guide further legislative measures.